|
A few days ago the Wisconsin
State Assembly took critical action to strengthen Wisconsin’s economy,
approving bills to support Wisconsin’s small businesses and encourage
economic development. I was happy to vote in favor of Assembly Bill 767, the
“Regulatory Flexibility and Enforcement Fairness Act.” Under this bill,
state agencies are given flexibility and urged to utilize written warnings,
reduced fines, and other options as opposed to strict finical penalties
against small businesses that would have otherwise been enforced more
harshly. By asking our state agencies to be flexible with businesses and
work together, it is our hope that we can address regulatory issues in a
less punitive and more productive manner. After all, if we’re going to get
Wisconsin’s economy back on the right track, we have to ensure that our
state is more business-friendly.
I was also pleased to vote in favor of SB 190, which saves small businesses
money by protecting them from automatic renewal clauses inserted into
equipment and service contracts. This legislation requires equipment or
service providers to specifically point out automatic renewal clauses to
small business customers. Businesses must be notified when the clause is
about to take effect. These clauses are commonly included in contracts for
companies that provide credit card processing services, waste hauling or
disposal services, specialized computer equipment services and telephone
service providers. By protecting entrepreneurs from hidden clauses that
automatically renew contracts, we are saving small business owners costly
cancellation fees, allowing them to use this money to hire new employees
and/or expand their company. Outlawing contract tricks and traps will help
grow small businesses and strengthen Wisconsin’s economy.
These measures are just the latest steps we in the Assembly have taken to
strengthen Wisconsin’s economy, generate a more business-friendly climate,
and create jobs. Earlier this session we approved more than $200 million
worth of credits and incentives that have helped to save money for Wisconsin
businesses and attract new companies to our state. We also voted to extend
unemployment and health care benefits to displaced workers and to provide
more funding for training programs that are preparing workers for careers in
new, growing fields. As a new legislator, one of my top goals is to help
small business owners increase their profits, add new employees and cut
through the bureaucratic red tape.
|
